Ordination by woman bishop

A REGIONAL bishop in the diocese of Melbourne, the Rt Revd
Barbara Darling, has become the first woman bishop in Australia to
conduct an ordination.

As Vicar-General of the diocese while the Archbishop, Dr Philip
Freier, is on leave, Bishop Darling ordained 20 deacons in St
Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, on Saturday. Six of the new deacons
are women.

The Revd Professor Dorothy Lee, Dean of Trinity College
Theological School, Melbourne, where five of the new deacons were
trained, preached at the ordination.

Bishop Darling told reporters that it was a "very joyous
occasion", and that several people had written to tell her that
they were very touched by the service.

Bishop Darling is Australia's second woman bishop. A third was
consecrated last year (News, 13 April 2012), and
a fourth will be consecrated in Brisbane in April.